SeaSweet Patisserie, Parramatta

On Saturday, I met up with a friend for lunch. I had been out the night before, was slightly hungover and decided that a huge all day breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast, hashbrowns and cheese fries from nut'n'fancy was appropriate. I regretted that when I remembered about SeaSweet - I should have saved my stomach.

We headed up the street after our lunch and walked in to what is a treasure trove of baked goods. I didn't have my camera with me (I blame that on the alcohol....I just didn't think to bring it.....what a shite food blogger I am!!) so unfortch I don't have a photo of the actual place.

It's been there for ages, infact I think it opened there when I worked just 1 block away from it, but I never went there.......god only knows why. They have a massive range of cakes, pastries, chocolates, biscuits and lebanese sweets too.

Tart strawberry - $4.50

This was delicious. Smooth, creamy custard, crisp buttery pastry and the strawberries had the BEST flavour.....you know how sometimes on tarts, the strawberries can be not so fresh and a bit flavourless?? These were plump and juicy and fresh and had a really strong flavour. 

White forest cake $4.50

This was quite nice - vanilla sponge cake with sweet cream and fruit. The sponge was maybe a tad bit dry, but had a nice flavour. The cream was taaaaaasty, I firmly believe that there is no such thing as too much cream. I have to say though, the fruit was a bit disappointing.....it was of the canned variety. I still enjoyed the cake though. 

Choux a la creme chocolat - $4.50

Non soggy choux pastry is always a win in my eyes. It was filled with delicious chocolate cream and it was generously filled. I would have taken a photo but.....well I just wanted to eat it ahahaha but it was filled to the brim with chocolate cream. Rich, sweet, chocolatey goodness. 

Tiramisu - $4.50

Boyfriend ate this because I'm not the worlds biggest tiramisu fan. He made grunting noises though, so I can only assume that meant it was awesome. 

Petit four chocolates - 250g for $13.95

These are little shortbread bases, ultra buttery, topped with a ganache and coated in crisp chocolate. The marble one in the background is my favourite, it's got white chocolate ganache and pistachios inside it. So yum. 

I'll have to go back soon because they have indoor & outdoor seating (with heaters) and I'm sure they would make delicious coffee so I want to eat in next time!! 

SeaSweet Patisserie

Shop 4, 354 Church Street

Parramatta 2150

Ph: 1300 90 80 70

www.seasweet.com.au

Cupcake cake

Sorry blog. Sorry for ignoring you like that.

I've been a bit busy recently.

Last week I had a 3 day workshop with the Choir & Dance kids I work with and it was 3 loooooong days of having children follow me around. I felt like the pied piper.

On Saturday, I went to the Good Food & Wine show. It reminded me of a big version of the Woolworths Dome at the Easter Show. I love the Woolworths Dome. I bought some good things at the show - I shall do a post on that at a later date.

On Saturday night, my brother, his fiancee, their 2 fur children and I drove down to Shellharbour because we were going to a bridal expo the next day (because I'm one of their bridesmaids, it was nice for me to tag along too). It was an absolutely gorgeous day - clear blue skies, warm, sunny, and right by the water too. We ate at a Brewery and I wish I had taken my camera with me, the view, food and company was fabulous.

Anyway, that's why I haven't given you your cake yet blog, because I've been very busy. But I still love you:

Happy Birthday, blog!!

Dearest blog,

Happy 1st Birthday.

I baked you a giant cupcake cake, but my memory card is in my car downstairs, and it's too cold and I'm too tired to go and get it.

I still love you though and I hope you had a fabulous day.

I'll give you your cake tomorrow.

Love,

Kat xx

T2 Cafe at Macquarie Centre

Today I had afternoon tea with my mum, brother & his fiancee, both my sisters, and their children.

That's 10 people all together.

And I didn't think to make a booking. Infact, I don't even know if they take bookings.

My sister and I arrived at the same time and to my dismay the place was full. Packed. It didn't occur to me that it would be busy on a Monday afternoon at 2pm. But it's school holidays (I forgot). After moving around from table to table after people left, we finaly got a good table with an awesome couch at it to boot - check it out!!

Purrrrty!!

I ordered a pot of chai tea, and some scones ($11 - I think it was $4.50 for the tea and $5.50 for the scones). The scones came with some reaaaally smooth, thick cream. It was delish. And the scones were really nice and fluffy on the inside and a bit crisp on the outside (just a thin layer of crispness) and they were slightly warm too. They usually come with jam but ummmm I don't really like jam.......hehe so no jam for me thanks!! The tea was really aromatic, very enjoyable with just a dash of milk.

The pretty cup & saucer for my tea

My mum ordered sandwiches and a pot of russian caravan tea ($14). The sandwich flavours were smoked salmon, ham & cheese, cucumber and......something else I can't remember. Whoops. 

My brothers fiancee ordered some scones too, and a pot of goregous geisha tea. It was SO nice I had a taste of it and I could smell the strawberry in it as I put the cup to my mouth. It was just slightly sweet with the strawberry flavour and very refreshing. It was served hot, but you can serve it cold in the summer too. I can imagine it would be very nice on a hot summers day.

The ambience in T2 is also really beautiful - it's dark, mysterious, has a very oriental feel to it, and is a little bit quirky too. Vintage patterned china, beautiful lanterns, old world furniture. Just beautiful. Very calming.

It was a nice little afternoon tea, and was really nice to be with my family - today's a bit of a sad day for my family. 14 years ago, my mother, father and I were in a car accident and my father passed away as a result of it. Every year, I miss him more and more, and it was good to be surrounded by people who love me <3

T2 Teahouse
Macquarie Centre
Shop 413
Herring Rd (Cnr Waterloo Rd)
North Ryde 2113 NSW
Phone: (02) 9888 3665

Homemade Churro Win!!

I'm SO not in to frying things.

Infact, I'd go as far to say that I hate it.

These churros were no exception - I hate having to stand there, monitor the oil, make sure it's not burning, make sure I don't burn myself (fail) etc etc......but the end result was kinda worth it.

These churros were aweeeeeesome!! I've been obsessed with churros ever since I was about 8 years old. I went to Disneyland in USA with my sister and mum and ate this long, soft, sugary, cinnamony piece of dough. And it was deeeeeeeeelicious. Nothing like it in Australia at all - not until a few years ago at least.

I walked past san churro today with my boyfriend and I was like OMG CHURRO WANT!! But I was full from lunch and also broke.

So I came home and made my own.

My kitchen, hair, clothes and infact my whole apartment smells like oil.....but again, it was worth it. If only I had some chocolate on hand to dip those bad boys in......*sigh* it was good enough with cinnamon sugar though!!

This churro recipe was the whole reason I bought this book. I opened it up at the bookshop and the churro recipe was staring at me. I didn't even look at the other recipes - I was sold!! The other recipes do look good though, and I will defo be trying more of them!!

Churros from Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey by Jill O'Connor

1 cup water
1/4 light olive oil (I used vegetable instead, I didn't have light and it said not to use extra virgin)
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups of plain flour, sifted and then measured (meh I'm not that precise. I just measured and sifted - cause I'm a rebel like that ya know....!!)
4 large eggs (I used 3 because I got sick of beating them in lol)
Peanut or canola oil for frying (I used vegetable)
Sugar & cinnamon for rolling

Combine the water, olive oil and salt in a medium heavy bottom non aluminium saucepan (uhhh.....idk, I just used a saucepan!!). Bring to a full, rolling boil over high heat. Remove from the heat and add the flour all at once. Stir briskly until the dough pulls away from the sides of the pan and fathers in a clump around the spoon. Place the pan over medium heat and stir the batter for 30 - 60 seconds. This gets rid of any excess moisture and also the raw flour taste from the dough.

Line a work surface with foil and turn the dough on to it. Pat the dough in to an 8 inch circle and let cool for 5 mins. Return to the pan and beat in eggs one at a time until the dough smooths out. It should be smooth, slightly sticky, and malleable but firm enough to form soft peaks and be piped or scooped and hold its shape.

Pour oil to a depth of 3 inches in to a saucepan and heat to 365c. Fit a pastry bag with a large star tip (couldn't find my big one.....used a small one instead) and pipe strips of dough into the oil. Fry until golden brown and when cooked transfer to paper towel to drain and then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture.

They were gooooood - crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. And in my boyfriends words "why does everything you make turn out so fucking good?!"

:)

Tim Tam Ice Cream Sandwiches

I'm a big advocate for ice cream in the middle of winter.

We still drink cold drinks......and eat cold food like salad.......so why shouldn't we eat ice cream in winter?!

I saw this post yesterday on chocolatesuze, and it reminded me of something I made aaaaages ago - It is seriously the most simple ice cream recipe ever. No eggs, no heating, no churning.....it's an ice cream maker free zone!!

Tim tam heaven baby!! 

Ingredients:

600ml thickened cream
395g can sweetened condensed milk
chopped chocolate bar/biscuits of your choice (I usually make it with crunchies, but tim tams were on sale at woolies this week - 2 packs for $3.....yeeeuuuusss!!)
1 packet of malt biscuits (I used paradise brand). 

Beat cream until soft peaks form (definitely do not beat it too much, you only want soft peaks!!)
Fold in sweetened condensed milk and chopped chocolate.

Layer malt biscuits in a brownie tin lined with baking paper or plastic wrap (I think plastic wrap works easier), spread ice cream mixture over biscuits, and top with another layer of biscuits - you want them nice and even so that when it's frozen, you can take the whole thing out of the pan and cut it in to ice cream sandwiches. It's sooooo good and SO easy. And the best thing about it is that it's able to be customized to exactly your tastes........Try it!!